Aussie flu surged 156 per cent in just one week

Older people, children, and people with underlying health conditions are at particular risk and it's feared that the number of cases here could rise dramatically over the coming weeks.

However, the dangers surrounding the flu, and more specifically the H3N2 strain known as the "Aussie flu", have since escalated.

The H3N2 subtype, which is a strain of influenza A, triggered two and a half times the normal number of cases in Australia.

This morning, HSE's assistant national director for health protection Dr Kevin Kelleher spoke on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland about the looming prospect of a flu epidemic.

A further 73 people have been hospitalised.

The CDC recommends people at high risk for complications from the flu be treated with antiviral medications as soon as possible once they become sick.

'I don't give specific numbers when it's less than 10 because people could be identified.

"These indicators tell us that flu is actively starting to circulate in the community, yet it's not too late for people at risk to get the vaccine from their GP or Pharmacist".

"You speak to people who've had the flu and know they've had the flu, been told explicity they've had the flu, they often find it hard to get out of bed, it's not an easy thing to do".

Well that was a wild New Year's Eve.

The H3N2 subtype, which is a strain of influenza A, triggered two and a half times the normal number of cases in Australia.

"One of the most intense few days I've gone through".

'I'll leave that with the rest of the bad behind me in 2017 and take with me the many great experiences I've had this year (sic)'.

Last week 522 cases of type A and 546 cases of type B were recorded in England and Wales.

McGregor says that the family's big New Year's Eve party had been canceled at the last minute and he was left "shaking in bed the past two days".

Britons are being warned that a "killer Aussie flu" epidemic which affected 250,000 Australians and left hundreds dead last winter is poised to strike the United Kingdom.

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor has never been one to play coy on social media, but one of his first Instagramposts has already been deleted potentially setting a precedent for how his 2018 social media will be handled.

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